Stopping Invenergy

After a month-long hiatus, the Invenergy Final Hearing has resumed. At stake is whether Rhode Island’s Energy Facility Siting Board will grant Invenergy a permit to pave over a forest in Burrillville to build a new fracked gas and diesel oil power plant.

The ISO’s Forward Capacity Auction 13, conducted on Monday, February 4, 2019, showed once again – strongly and unequivocally – that the proposed Invenergy fracked gas and diesel oil power plant is not needed.

At a hearing before the state Energy Facility Siting Board, Jerry Elmer, a lawyer for the Conservation Law Foundation, used an analyst’s words to argue that Chicago-based Invenergy’s $1-billion, two-turbine Clear River Energy Center is not needed.

“No one should be given a free pass to pollute Rhode Island waters,” James Crowley, staff attorney at the CLF, said in a statement. “The state has the power to hold these polluters accountable and it must act now to protect our waters for future generations.”

“How much more proof do we need that this plant is unnecessary?” said Jerry Elmer, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Invenergy’s fracked gas and fossil fuel plant would generate dangerous greenhouse gas emissions at a time when Rhode Island should be focusing on clean, renewable energy. Today’s decision makes it clear: Invenergy needs to admit defeat and stop forcing this unwanted plant on Rhode Islanders.”

In an unprecedented display of no confidence, our energy grid operator terminated its legal relationship with Invenergy. It’s yet another nail in the coffin on this unneeded, unwanted, fracked-gas power plant.

Without a permit and with no shovels in the ground, the ISO has determined it is impossible for Invenergy to start generating energy by its required deadline. So ISO walked away from Invenergy. This is further proof that the plant is not needed and should not be built.

“Today’s decision is yet another nail in the coffin for this unnecessary fracked gas and fossil fuel plant,” said Jerry Elmer, Senior Attorney at CLF. “Rhode Island simply does not need the power that this plant would generate or the dangerous greenhouse gas emissions that would come along with it. As we’ve been saying for months, it’s time for Invenergy to admit defeat and let Rhode Island focus instead on clean renewable energy like solar and wind power.”

“Today’s filing is proof positive of what CLF has argued from day one: Invenergy’s plant is simply not needed,” said Jerry Elmer, Senior Attorney at CLF. “The fracked gas and diesel oil plant would create climate-damaging greenhouse gas pollution at a time when we should be putting all of our efforts into advancing clean energy. It’s time for Invenergy to admit defeat and withdraw its permit application.”